![\"Secret](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/20240913_105320-e1726595604216.jpg\")
<\/a>Secret Room Events head honcho Rita Branch, (whose sandals I was coveting that day!,) with her son, (and helper,) Noah Udovychenko.<\/p><\/div>\n
Laura says, \u201cThere\u2019s something truly magical about the Petersen Museum. Kudos to Secret Room Events for choosing such an iconic Los Angeles venue for their event. Upon entering the museum, you\u2019re immediately captivated by the cars on the first floor. But take the elevator up to the rooftop, and you\u2019ll be equally dazzled by the stunning views of Los Angeles and the offerings from this pre-Emmys Style Lounge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of the gifts we discovered there, Laura said, \u201cMy perennial favorite part of Secret Room Events is learning about companies that are really innovative. There were a duo there this time that especially stood out for me in that category.\u201d (You\u2019ll find-out which ones they are as we go along, so keep an eye out for them.)<\/p>\n
Here are the highlights of the gifts we discovered there:<\/p>\n
<\/a>Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
HayMad & Co.<\/strong>\u2014We loved this sponsor! Each guest got their choice of either a beautiful sturdy corduroy tote bag or a lovely black or gray crewneck sweatshirt with the words “Be Kind” on it, which is always my<\/em> motto. I hope these shirts remind others to do the same.\u00a0 Laura noted that \u201cin support of Mental Health Awareness, a portion of the proceeds from their Be Kind Collection are donated to mental health organizations, fostering a stronger community.\u201d That\u2019s just one more reason to appreciate this company. \u00a0www.haymadandco.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n Phantomasy<\/strong>\u2014Laura tells us, \u201cIn the cosplay world, a mask is an integral accessory, and Phantomasy transforms the mask into a work of art. I\u2019m so glad that in designing these beauties, they\u2019ve considered people who wear glasses, like moi, so we don\u2019t have to miss out on the fun.\u201d I<\/em> was just impressed with all their gorgeous color combos! www.phantomasy.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n TeaVoila<\/strong>\u2014This was one of the aforementioned companies that Laura adored learning about. She enthusiastically tells us, \u201cEach package of TeaVoila provides a dozen ready-to-go biodegradable tea cups that you can refill a trio of times, each with the same taste and aroma.\u00a0\u00a0Their plant-based filters have sealing technology at the bottom of the cup so bitter tea is a thing of the past! You never have to worry about over-steeping.\u00a0 You simply top up the hot water when you’ve almost reached the bottom of the cup.\u201d I<\/em> just appreciated that white tea, the most healthful variety of all, is one of their choices! www.teavoila.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Ellovi<\/strong>\u2014Laura loves that this skincare company is \u201cproudly woman-owned.\u201d And I<\/em> appreciate that this particular woman is originally from Ukraine, a country I\u2019m always happy to support. She concentrates her efforts on making only two products, so you know they\u2019re good. She gifted her whipped body butter in three different \u201cflavors,\u201d (Pink Lotus, Serenade, and Midnight,) and the same for her trio of lip butters (Blossom, Wild Rose, and Coffee.)\u00a0 Laura says, \u201cWhat truly sets this skincare line apart is its commitment to simplicity and safety. Each product is made from only six natural ingredients, ensuring that the formulations are both gentle and effective. In fact, they are so pure that you could even eat them, which speaks volumes about their quality and safety.\u201d\u00a0www.ellovi.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n getCrewd Party Card Game<\/strong>\u2014As someone who\u2019s been in \u201cthe biz\u201d since I was a teen, and has always<\/em> loved games dating back to Candyland, I got a kick out of learning about this new card game created by a fellow female filmmaker. Laura, who has never had even a scintilla of show business aspirations, says, \u201cThis is a great game for anyone who has ever fantasized about becoming a real Hollywood producer. You build a crew and hire actors, and if you stay under budget, you win!\u201d So now, after leaving acting behind for journalism, I can finally get a big victory in my original field!\u00a0www.getcrewd.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n Mikel Kristi Skincare<\/strong>\u2014This was such a fun table because we basically \u201ctrick-or-treated\u201d for the proper skincare products! The reps asked questions about our skin, and then, as Laura marveled, \u201ccustomized a complete skincare routine for each individual.\u201d She added, \u201cthe small bottles are perfect for travel, and they\u2019re all placed them in an adorable mesh travel case.\u201dwww.mikelkristi.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Scosche<\/strong>\u2014This technology accessories company was a welcome gifting suite newbie. Just listening<\/em> to their rep made me feel more intelligent! They gifted a choice of a power charger or a magnetic phone mount, called the MagicMount, which uses a StickGrip suction cup base to securely hold it to the vehicle dashboard.\u00a0 Laura was impressed that it \u201cuses extra powerful Rare-Earth neodymium magnets which are much stronger than the standard ones.\u201d www.scosche.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n Marigoldbub<\/strong>\u2014This skincare company is interesting in that it offers items for both moms and<\/em> their babies!\u00a0Laura says their \u201cintention is to provide authentic, exceptional products designed with your family\u2019s well-being in mind.\u201d Guests received a facial serum along with a tongue scraper, which is a very hip item these days.\u00a0www.marigoldbub.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n La d\u00e3 Vie<\/strong>\u2014This company is interesting in that they gifted two wellness products that everyone should use daily, but in different areas! One is a Pit Armor natural deodorant, and the other is their moisturizer that Laura did some research on, and found-out \u201cis formulated with ingredients that provide multiple benefits for maturing skin, helping to address common concerns such as dryness, loss of elasticity and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.\u201d\u00a0www.ladavie.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n MiGuard<\/strong>\u2014Migraine headaches had just been on my mind because tennis player Victoria Azarenka had just suffered from a really bad one while she was playing in the US Open! So I suggested to this company that they send her a bottle of their drug-free, all-natural Migraine & Headache Relief Solution, which was created to stop migraines before they even start.\u00a0 Laura said, \u201cAs someone who doesn’t like to take aspirin or ibuprofen when I have a headache, I really appreciate when a natural solution is available.\u00a0 This product was created by a doctor and is backed by clinical studies.\u201d\u00a0www.getmiguard.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n SenQuil<\/strong>\u2014Each guest received a choice of this line\u2019s night serum, cleaner, or moisturizer. Laura checked it out, and says, \u201cI really like that this company is committed to developing plant-based, scientifically-proven, evidence-based products with naturally-sourced ingredients that provide quality skincare for all.\u201d (And I\u2019m<\/em> impressed that this product inspired her to write a sentence with a total of four hyphenated compound words!)\u00a0www.senquil.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n Smoodi<\/strong>\u2014The is the second company whose innovation \u201creally<\/em> wowed\u201d Laura. Smoodi is an automated smoothie machine, which Laura says \u201ccould be a game changer for many retailers\u2014think gas stations, movie theaters, and college or corporate cafeterias. This self-serve smart blender is interactive, (and quite fun to watch), and it even cleans itself. As someone who truly appreciates engineering, I find it to be an absolutely beautiful machine that can make your favorite smoothie with ease.\u201d\u00a0www.getsmoodi.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n Crazy Candy<\/strong>\u2014This company let each guest choose which candy they liked best and fill a cup with it. Mom of two Laura says, \u201cFreeze-dried candy is the latest craze sweeping the candy world, and my kids are absolutely obsessed with this unique treat.\u201d \u00a0www.crazycandy.com<\/a><\/p>\n There were a couple of other little snacks along the way, which we always appreciate. It\u2019s a bit difficult to meet-and-greet so many people when you\u2019re hungry, so tidbits help.<\/p>\n As always at Secret Room Events, each VIP guest also received a gigantic LL Bean bag chock-full of auxiliary gifts. Laura got to lift one up, and even though she has practically Herculean strength, she could not believe how heavy it was all from all the extra gifts!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>